Our ferry ticket cost €500 and we left the port of Tunis at eight in the evening, arriving in Genoa 24 hours later. There was an à la carte restaurant on board where we had dinner and lunch the following day. We had booked a late-check-out cabin so that we were not troubled by staff banging on our door two hours before arrival.
Twenty four hours after landing in Italy we were driving through France, heading for Spain. Overnight stops were usually at fuel stations although one day we found a restaurant that let you stay in their car park providing you ate with them. The restaurant was heaving with groups of diners enjoying Christmas parties.
The following day we were on the motorway near Béziers when our Garmin satnav abruptly ceased working – it was a few years old and had occasionally been cutting out at inconvenient times. We decided that the battery had probably failed (we would order a replacement battery when we got back to the UK).
Mr Google found us a motorhome accessories shop nearby in Béziers where we were able to buy a replacement unit for €450. We also visited a truck wash facility where we had our filthy vehicle cleaned (€70) before driving to Gruisson to stock up with wine (€300) – it was turning out to be a very expensive day. But, with a glistening truck, well stocked with rosé wine and the means to find our way – we felt it was money very well spent.
